Comments (9)

By Alyssa, July 27, 2010 10:13 pm

I would love to have more kiddos.  Hubby Haus is all for more kiddos, as long as we are debt-free (read this original post).  I’ve got all the cloth diapers I need, the clothes (well, if I have a girl in the future, she’s going to be wearing a lot of blue), and the baby stuff.  The only thing I don’t have is a car that fits more than two car seats.  I drive the boys in a Toyota Camry and, although our Toyota Tundra could squeeze three little dudes in the back seat, Haus stopped letting me drive it once Bubba referred to it as “Mommy’s truck”.

Since we are within a month of debt-free-ness (didn’t happen in June because Haus surprised me with a new laptop), we’ve had more than a few discussions about another vehicle.  Here are our requirements:

- Seating for at least 5 normal sized peeps, preferably seating for 7 (normal means my 6’5″ hubby could somewhat fit in the back row)

- All-Wheel-Drive or at least 4-Wheel-Drive

- Leather seating (2 boys, one dog, enough said)

- Around 60, 000 miles or less

- We’d prefer a Toyota as we love our mechanic and have been faithful Toyota owners for ten years

- We’re paying cash… haven’t made a car payment in years

I researched All-Wheel-Drive vehicles, and the only one Toyota makes that we can afford is the Sienna.  The Swagger Wagon.  I told myself a long time ago that I would never buy a minivan, but then I watched this:

And I realized that instead of making a prideful decision, the mini is within our price range, meets all of our needs, and serves our last requirement, fits our kids and their friends.  Sure, I’d really love a Sequoia, but we can’t afford that right now.  Besides, the Sienna videos are stinking hilarious.

I guess I’d love to hear your opinion.  Do you own a minivan?  Are you totally against minivans?  Why?

Oh, and, no, I’m not pregnant.  Just preparing.

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By Alyssa, July 27, 2010 7:22 pm

Start at the beginning by clicking here.

Sitting in the back of the auditorium during an Advanced Biochemistry lecture, I realized I didn’t want to be a doctor anymore.  I wish this epiphany would have surfaced during my first semester of college or my second, even my third semester when I barely passed Genetics 101.  Nope.  I held out and C minus-ed my way to my 4th semester of college, just before spring break of my sophomore year.  I wasn’t a quitter and hated my way through all of the classes until I just couldn’t hate it anymore.

I left that class early, made an appointment with my advisor, and told her I would be dropping the remainder of my pre-med classes.  She put up a little fight.  If I finished that semester I would have a Chemistry minor. I was adamant and told her I couldn’t do it one more day, not even one more class.  After she agreed, I called my ROTC advisor and started the paperwork to change majors.  Unlike other majors at that time, an ROTC student commits in writing to be a future Army doctor.  The Army accepted my change of major, instead of a Pre-medical Biology major with an English minor, I would now pursue an English-Writing major.

After changing majors I left for spring break.  My roommate and fellow band member, Amy, invited me to her home in Phoenix.   I celebrated the week of freedom by relaxing next to her parents backyard pool and reading a non-academic book, “Kissed Dating Goodbye”.  The book convinced me I could maintain friendships with men until I was ready to get married, which wasn’t anytime soon.  On the plane ride back, I felt relief. Haus was my best friend and I was determined to keep it that way.  Amy’s parents agreed to host the “Babes,” my girl band, for the summer and I couldn’t wait to hang out with my best friends for a few months.  Everything was going exactly as I planned. Well, until I got back to school the end of March.

Sunday night after spring break I got a phone call from a buddy in ROTC.  Although we agreed earlier in the spring semester to pay a lower ticket price and escort each other to the Military Ball, he wanted to back out as he asked a girl he had just started dating.  Hanging up the phone, I glanced over at the blue evening gown I bought in Phoenix and slumped on the couch.  Before I could think about who might go with me, I heard a thud, thud, thud at the door.  That knock could only be one guy, I thought, as I jumped up and opened my dorm room door.

This moment remains a permanent picture in my mind today.  Haus smiled from outside of my room saying, “Welcome Back.”  His fresh tan from a family trip to Mexico perfectly complimented his beaming smile and hazel eyes.  He asked me if I’d eaten dinner and, before I could respond, led me to his car.  A few minutes later we were sitting across from each other in a Jack in the Box booth near campus.

“I think we should date,” he said finally.

“Say that again?” I said in between mouthfuls of a Sourdough Jack.  Finishing my bite, I laughed and said, “Sure, sure, now you want to date.”  He couldn’t be serious after almost a year of the “let’s-just-be-friends” bit.

Looking at me with an incredibly handsome face, he said, “I was talking to my friends and I can’t think of any reason why we shouldn’t be dating.”  I let him continue as I repeated in my head kissed dating goodbye, kissed dating goodbye, oh man he’s gorgeous, kissed dating goodbye.  ”We didn’t date to begin with because of Cowboy being your ex, but he’s not even a close friend of mine anymore and I…”  He trailed off before grabbing my hand, “I want to be more than just your friend.”

Gulping I tried to remain strong as thoughts zoomed in and out.  He’s your friend.  You don’t need a boyfriend.  He’s amazing.  He’s everything you’ve every wanted in a boyfriend.  Dating would complicate everything.  Dating would give you someone to wear that blue gown for.  Dating would be incredible.  Stop, stop, he’s your friend.  I heaved in a breath before responding.  ”I think we should stay friends,” I exhaled.

I’ll continue this soap opera… errr, I mean my story in the next post.  To be continued…